Toilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front

ABSTRACT

In a toilet bowl which includes a bowl body, a sitting member and a water reservoir, a new toilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front is disclosed, which comprises a bowl body having a longitudinal vertical opening, a backrest or chest support member which is provided apart from an upper side of the bowl body and the sitting member, a support handle which is installed at a side surface of the backrest or chest support member, a water reservoir which is not contacted with an upper side of the bowl body and the sitting member and stores water for flushing urine and feces, a water reservoir support member for supporting the water reservoir, and a chest support member support member which is engaged at the water reservoir and supports a backrest or chest support member support. A wheelchair user can more easily use in a forward facing posture while saving a space in a toilet room.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a toilet bowl system usable for sittingfacing front.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional toilet bowl is generally designed so that a user sitsafter turning around in front of a bowl. The above sitting type consistsof a rear side-facing toilet bowl.

FIG. 1 is a plane view illustrating a toilet which uses a conventionalrear side-facing toilet bowl.

As shown in FIG. 1, when an old and feeble person or a disabled person,who needs a wheel chair, uses a toilet, a wheel chair is moved into atoilet and turns around in front of a bowl, so that the user sits on thebowl. In this case, it is not easy for the above person to use theconventional toilet system. Namely, the user needs to turn around thewheel chair in the toilet. When sitting on a sitting member 10, the userneeds to hold a support handle 20. So, unnecessary procedures areneeded, and many inconveniences occur.

A conventional toilet system needs a lot of space so that a wheel chairsmoothly turns around in the toilet in order for a user to sit on thesitting member 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, since a washstand 30 is spaced apart, it is neededto move toward the washstand on the wheelchair for washing hands afterpeeing or bowel movement.

In case of a special bowl system designed for a disabled person, it isequipped with various special features, so that the price is high, andan ordinary person has a few problems for using the same.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide atoilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front which overcomes theproblems encountered in the conventional art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a toilet bowlsystem usable for sitting facing front in which a wheelchair user canmore easily use as compared to a conventional rear side-facing toiletbowl.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide atoilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front which can save aninner space of a toilet by providing a front side-facing toilet bowlsystem even when a wheelchair user uses.

It is still further another object of the present invention to provide atoilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front in which a wheelschair user can directly use a washstand, sitting on the wheelchair,without movement after peeing or bowel movement.

It is still further another object of the present invention to provide atoilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front in which a wheelchairuser as well as an ordinary person can use a toilet in the same manneras a conventional rear side-facing toilet bowl.

It is still further another object of the present invention to provide atoilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front which is veryeconomical since a wheelchair user as well as an ordinary user caneasily use.

To achieve the above objects, in a toilet bowl which includes a bowlbody, a sitting member, a backrest and a water reservoir, there isprovided a toilet bowl system usable for sitting facing forward whichcomprises a bowl body which has a vertically elongated opening; abackrest or chest support member support part which is spaded part, notcontacting with an upper side of the bowl body and the sitting member; asupport handle which is installed at a side of the backrest or chestsupport member; a water reservoir which is spaced part, not contactingwith an upper side of the bowl body and the sitting member and stores aprocess water which is used for flushing after peeing and bowelmovement; a water reservoir support part which supports the waterreservoir; and a chest support member support part which is engaged atthe water reservoir part and supports the backrest or chest supportmember.

A lower side of the bowl body and the water reservoir support part areintegrated with each other.

A lower side of the bowl body and the water reservoir support part areseparated from each other and are connected via a connection pipe when atoilet bowl is installed.

An accommodating part is formed at an upper side of the water reservoirfor storing and discharging water which is used for washing face andhands, and a water supply part is provided for supplying water to theaccommodating part.

The chest support member support part is engaged at part of the frontside or the front side and upper side of the water reservoir, and thewater supply part is provided at an upper side of the water reservoirpart of a rear side of the accommodating part which is opposite to thedirection of the bowl body. The chest support member support part ismade of a ceramic material, and the water supply part operates alongwith an automatic detection sensor which is installed at the supportmember of the water supply part.

The chest support member support part is engaged at a portion which isopposite to the direction of the bowl body in the upper edge portions ofthe water reservoir, and the water supply part is provided at the chestsupport member support part positioned at an upper side of theaccommodating part. The chest support member support part is made of ametallic material, and the water supply part operates along with anautomatic detection sensor which is installed at the chest supportmember support part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become better understood with reference tothe accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustrationand thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a plane view illustrating a conventional rear side-facingtoilet bowl;

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a front side-facing toilet bowlaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a front side-facing toiletbowl according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a front side-facing toiletbowl according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a front side-facing toilet bowlaccording to further another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a front side-facing toiletbowl according to further another embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 7 is a plane view illustrating a toilet equipped with a frontside-facing toilet bowl according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a front side-facing toilet bowlaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is aperspective view illustrating a front side-facing toilet bowl accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspectiveview illustrating a front side-facing toilet bowl according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a front side-facing toilet bowlaccording to further another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a front side-facing toiletbowl according to further another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, a front side-facing toilet bowl accordingto an embodiment of the present invention comprises a bowl body 100, asitting member 110, a backrest 120, and a water reservoir 140. The bowlbody 100 has an elliptical and longitudinal opening formed at an upperside 102 of the same. A lower side 104 of the bowl body contacts with afloor of a toilet. The opening of the bowl body 100 is verticallylongitudinally formed, so that a wheelchair user or an ordinary personcan easily pass through over the bowl body 100 and can sit on thesifting member. As shown in FIG. 5, urine or feces are discharged to awaste water reservoir via a waste water pipe 156.

The sitting member 112, which supports hips when a user sits thereon, ishinged at a hinge part 112 provided near an edge portion formed in thedirection of the water reservoir 140 of the upper side 102 of the bowlbody. The sitting member 110 can be lifted up. When the bowl is notused, a sitting member cover may be covered on the sitting member 110.

A backrest or chest support member 120 is spaced apart, not contactingwith the upper side 102 of the bowl body and the sitting member 110. Thesize of the backrest or chest support member 120 is determined so that auser's chest is substantially supported. Since the backrest or chestsupport member 120 is spaced apart from the sitting member 110 and theupper side 102 of the bowl body, respectively, a user is not needed towiden his legs when sitting on the sitting member. In addition, a usercan sit from the side of the bowl body 100.

A support handle 122 is installed at both sides of the backrest or chestsupport member 120 by a connection part 124. As shown in FIG. 7, awheelchair user sits on the sitting member 110, holding the supporthandle 122 in front of the bowl body 100. In another example, thewheelchair user may sit on the sitting member 110, holding the supporthandle 122 from the sides of the bowl. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7,a support guide 210 is installed at an inner wall of a toilet. So, theuser can more easily sit on the sitting member, holding the supporthandle 122 as well as the support guide 210.

A chest support member support part 126 is provided for supporting thebackrest or chest support member 120. When a user pushes the backrest orchest support member 120 with a chest or a back or when a user pushesthe support handle 122 with hands, the chest support member support part126 stably supports the same. The chest support member support part 126is engaged with the water reservoir 140 which temporarily stores waterfor flushing pee or feces.

The water reservoir 140 is spaced apart like the backrest or chestsupport member 120, not contacting with the upper side 102 of the bowlbody and the sitting member 110, and is supported by a water reservoirsupport part 150 provided below the water reservoir 140. As shown inFIG. 2, the water reservoir 140 may have the same shape as that of thewashstand or may have a bent circular column as shown in FIG. 5 or maybe formed in various shapes. As shown in FIG. 5, the water reservoirsupport part 150 may be integral with part of the lower side of thewater reservoir 140 or may be designed to separately support the waterreservoir 140.

As shown in FIG. 3, the water reservoir 140 may have a tissue storingpart 148 so that a user gets tissue out of the same. As not shown in thedrawings, a process water operation part such as a button or a waterflushing lever, which operates to flush pee or feces, may be provided ata front or side surface of the water reservoir 140 or a side or upperside of the backrest or chest support member 120 or an upper side of thechest support member support part 126.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the sitting member 110 may be equippedwith mounting grooves 111 at the outer surfaces in the direction of thewater reservoir so that user's thighs are supported by the same.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the toilet bowl system A usable for sittingfacing front according to another embodiment of the present invention,the lower side 104 of the bowl body 100 and the water reservoir supportpart 150 may be integrally formed. The engaging part 154 may be providedlower on the floor of the toilet, so that a user can more easily sit onthe sitting member 110 from the sides of the bowl.

As not shown in the drawings, a water supply pipe or a waste water pipemay be provided in the engaging part 154 so that a process water of thewater reservoir 140 flows through the same.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the toilet bowl system B usable for sittingfacing front according to further another embodiment of the presentinvention, the lower side 104 of the bowl body and the water reservoirsupport part 150 are installed separately from each other and areconnected via the connection pipe 151 on the floor of the toilet forthereby allowing the process water of the water reservoir 140 to besupplied to the bowl body 100. Here, the waste water process pipe 156may be installed on the floor of the toilet.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, according to further another embodimentof the present invention, the toilet bowl system usable for sittingfacing front comprises an accommodating part 132 formed at an upper side142 of the water reservoir 140 for storing and discharging water whichis used for washing face or hands. A water supply part 130 is providedfor supplying water to the accommodating part 132. The water supply bythe water supply part 130 is performed along with a manual or automaticdetection sensor. Here, the accommodating part 132 may be various shapesbased on the upper shape of the water reservoir 140. As shown in FIG. 2,it may be formed in a rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 5, it may beformed in a circular bowl shape. As not shown in the drawings, a washwater discharge port may be formed on the floor of the center of theaccommodating part 132. As shown in FIG. 4, the water supply part 130may be engaged at the water reservoir 140. It may be installed on thefront wall of the toilet which contacts with the water reservoir 140. Anautomatic drier may be installed at the front side of the waterreservoir 140 so that a user dries hands.

In the toilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front according tofurther another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2,the chest support member support part 126 may be engaged at part of thefront side 144 or the upper side of the water reservoir 140. As shown inFIG. 4, the water supply part 130 may be installed at a rear side of theaccommodating part 132 which corresponds to a portion opposite to thedirection of the bowl body at the upper side of the water reservoir 140in a shape of a water tap.

In the toilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front according tofurther another embodiment of the present invention, the chest resetsupport member 126 is made of a ceramic material or a metallic material.Hand wash water may be supplied with the help of an automatic detectionsensor 134 installed near the water supply part 130 on the supportmember of the water supply part 130. Here, the automatic detectionsensor 134 may be installed at a certain portion where it is possible todetect the presence of hands before the water supply part 130. Theautomatic detection sensor may be designed to detect a temperature or ahand operation near the water supply part 130.

In the toilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front according tofurther another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5,the chest support member support part 126 may be engaged at an edgeportion which is opposite to the direction of the bowl body at the edgeof the upper side 142 of the water reservoir 140. The water supply part130 may be provided on the chest support member support part 126positioned at the upper side of the accommodating part 132 or may beprovided in a water tap shape at an edge portion of the upper side 142of the water reservoir at a rear side of the accommodating part 132which is opposite to the direction of the bowl body.

In the toilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front according tofurther another embodiment of the present invention, the chest supportmember support part 126 may be made of a metallic material. As shown inFIG. 6, in the water supply part 130, water supply may be implementedwith the help of an automatic detection sensor 134 installed near thewater supply part 130. Here, the automatic detection sensor 134 may beinstalled at a certain portion where detects the presence of the handsin front of the water supply part 130.

FIG. 7 is a plane view illustrating a toilet equipped with a frontside-facing toilet bowl according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7, the toilet may be equipped with oneamong the toilet bowl system usable for sitting facing front accordingto the embodiments A, B and C of the present invention. The toiletcomprises a support guide 210 installed at left and right sides of thebowl or both wall surfaces of the toilet, and a mirror which isinstalled on the rear wall surface of the accommodating part 132 whichis opposite to the direction of the bowl body. As shown in FIG. 7, in atoilet which is equipped with a front side-facing toilet bowl, awheelchair user sits on the sitting member 110, holding the supporthandle 122 of the bowl. In this case, the support guide 210 installed onboth walls of the toilet may be used. As shown in FIG. 7, the toilet,which is equipped with a front side-facing bowl, is able to save aninner space of the toilet when a wheelchair user uses the same.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention provides a front side-facingtoilet bowl system which provides a wheelchair with a lot of conveniencewhen in use.

In addition, the present invention provides a toilet bowl system whichis able to save a space of a toilet by providing a front side-facingtoilet bowl even when a user uses a wheelchair.

The present invention provides a toilet bowl system that a wheelchairuser can directly wash hands and face in place after a wheelchair userfinishes peeing and bowel movement.

The present invention provides a toilet bowl that a wheelchair as wellas an ordinary person can easily use like a conventional rearside-facing bowl. A wheelchair user as well as an ordinary person canuse a toilet bowl like a conventional rear side-facing toilet bowl, sothat an economic efficiency is enhanced.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, itshould also be understood that the above-described examples are notlimited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unlessotherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within itsspirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore allchanges and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of theclaims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intendedto be embraced by the appended claims.

1.-11. (canceled)
 12. A closestool usable for sitting facing front thatincludes a seat, the closestool comprising: a closestool body thatincludes an opening; a member for both backrest and chestrest that doesnot come in contact with and is spatially separated from an upperportion of the closestool body and the seat; and a reservoir that doesnot come in contact with and is spatially separated from an upperportion of the closestool body and the seat, and stores water used forurine and excrement.
 13. The closestool usable for sitting facing frontaccording to claim 12, further comprising: supporting handles that areprovided on both sides of the member for both backrest and chestrest.14. The closestool usable for sitting facing front according to claim12, further comprising: a reservoir supporter that supports thereservoir.
 15. The closestool usable for sitting facing front accordingto claim 14, wherein a lower portion of the closestool body and thereservoir supporter are integrally connected to each other.
 16. Theclosestool usable for sitting facing front according to claim 14,wherein a lower portion of the closestool body and the reservoirsupporter are separated from each other, and are connected to each otherby a connection pipe during the installation of the closestool.
 17. Theclosestool usable for sitting facing front according to claim 12,further comprising: a chestrest supporter that is fixed to the reservoirand supports the member for both backrest and chestrest.
 18. Theclosestool usable for sitting facing front according to claim 17,wherein the chestrest supporter is made of a ceramic material, and isfixed to a front portion of the reservoir or a part of the front upperportions of the reservoir.
 19. The closestool usable for sitting facingfront according to claim 17, wherein the chestrest supporter is made ofmetal, and is fixed to a portion of the reservoir, which is opposite tothe closestool body, of upper edge portions of the reservoir.
 20. Theclosestool usable for sitting facing front according to claim 17,further comprising: a receiving part that receives and discharges waterused for washing and is formed at the upper portion of the reservoir;and a water supply part that supplies water used for washing to thereceiving part.
 21. The closestool usable for sitting facing frontaccording to claim 20, wherein the water supply part is provided at anupper end of the receiving part of the reservoir or at the upper portionof the reservoir, which is positioned on the rear side of the receivingpart, that is, opposite to the closestool body, and is operated by anautomatic sensor.
 22. The closestool usable for sitting facing frontaccording to claim 20, wherein the water supply part is provided onchestrest supporter provided at an upper portion of the receiving partor at the upper edge portion of the reservoir, which is positioned onthe rear side of the receiving part, that is, opposite to the closestoolbody, and is operated by an automatic sensor.